John C. Bahnsen Jr., 89, Dies; Fierce Commander During the Vietnam War

U.S.|John C. Bahnsen Jr., 89, Dies; Fierce Commander During the Vietnam War https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/04/us/john-c-bahnsen-jr-dead.html You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. One of the most honored combat veterans in U.S. history, he was awarded 19 decorations for valor. […]

John C. Bahnsen Jr., 89, Dies; Fierce Commander During the Vietnam War

John C. Bahnsen Jr., 89, Dies; Fierce Commander During the Vietnam War thumbnail

U.S.|John C. Bahnsen Jr., 89, Dies; Fierce Commander During the Vietnam War

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/04/us/john-c-bahnsen-jr-dead.html

You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.

One of the most honored combat veterans in U.S. history, he was awarded 19 decorations for valor. He was blunt about what his job was: killing.

Gen. John C. Bahnsen Jr. wearing a mottled Army camouflage uniform and combat helmet while posing in front of a helicopter, his sleeves rolled up and his hands on his hips.
Brig. Gen. John C. Bahnsen Jr. with an Apache helicopter in the early 1980s. In Vietnam, he was known to fire his rifle and drop hand grenades from his helicopter.Credit…U.S. Army, via Wess Roberts

Michael S. Rosenwald

John C. Bahnsen Jr., a retired Army brigadier general who was awarded 19 decorations for valor during the Vietnam War, mostly for his swashbuckling, hands-on command of an air cavalry troop that saw heavy combat, died on Feb. 21 at his home in Rochelle, Ga. He was 89.

His wife, Peggy Bahnsen, a retired lieutenant colonel, confirmed the death. She said he had congestive heart failure.

General Bahnsen was among the most decorated combat veterans in U.S. history. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second-highest honor for heroism, behind the Medal of Honor; five Silver Stars; four Legions of Merit; three Distinguished Flying Crosses; four Bronze Stars (three for valor); two Purple Hearts; and the Army Commendation Medal with a “V” device for valor.

He earned most of those awards during the second of two Vietnam tours, when he led a troop in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment that was commanded by Maj. Gen. George S. Patton, the son of Gen. George S. Patton Jr. of World War II fame.

The younger Patton’s battle dictum was “Find the bastards and pile on.” Temperamentally, General Bahnsen, a major at the time, seemed perfectly suited for the job. As James Noe, one of his pilots, recalled, upon taking command of his troops, General Bahnsen asked, “Who wants to wrestle?” (Nobody did.)

He was also blunt in describing their mission: to kill as many North Vietnamese soldiers as possible, even as protesters back home called American troops “baby killers” and worse.


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